Tahiti Honey
Cast & Crew
John H. Auer
Simone Simon
Dennis O'keefe
Michael Whalen
Lionel Stander
Wally Vernon
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1941, pianist Mickey Monroe and his band, The Brooklyn Bombshells, become stranded in Tahiti after their female singer deserts the group. Business is so bad that the club owner threatens to fire them unless they get some "oomph," like that of by French-American singer Suzette Durand, who performs in a neighboring club. Despite the objections of trombone player Pinkie, who reminds his bandmates of how many times the group has been "busted up" because of a woman, the men vote to include Suzi in the group until they earn enough money to return to the United States. Womanizer Mickey is chosen as their envoy, and he persuades Suzie to join the band, by promising her that she can accompany them to America. With Suzie as their singer, the Bombshells are a big hit, but their successful run is cut short by the arrival of a boat bound for home. The men, believing that Suzie is to remain behind, bid her farewell, but as she has fallen in love with Mickey, she has faith that he will keep his promise. Desiring to please all concerned, Mickey concocts a story that Suzie must go to America to be reunited with "Charley," her Naval officer fiancé whom she has not seen in three years. The others are taken in by Mickey's sentimental pleas, and Suzie accompanies them to San Francisco. Their songs do not strike a pleasing chord there, however, and business in New Orleans is even more abysmal. Despite their travails, the men become fond of the thoughtful Suzie and engrossed in the continuing saga provided by her letters from "Charley," which are actually written by Mickey. When Pinkie complains to the others that Suzie is bad luck, she convinces them to adopt a softer style, and they finally become a hit in Miami as Eleven Jacks and a Queen. After the band signs a big contract, Mickey angers Suzie by flirting with a cigarette girl named Linda. He convinces her that he was only trying to prevent the band from uncovering their own romance, but Suzie gets her revenge when Maxie, the bass player, mistakes Navy Lt. John Barton for "Charley." Instantly attracted to Suzie, John plays along with the charade and falls in love with her as the weeks pass. Suzie is upset by Mickey's apparant lack of jealousy and so tells John that he must ask each band member's permission when he proposes to her. Even Mickey, who has realized that he loves Suzie, gives his consent, for he believes that John will make a better husband than he could. On the night of 6 December 1941, John and Mickey meet in a bar, and while getting drunk, deduce that they are rivals for Suzie's affections. As they selflessly insist that the other should marry her, Suzie walks in and, believing that neither one wants her, breaks off with both of them. Soon after, Suzie is packing to leave when Pinkie tells her that because of Pearl Harbor, she should stay and help entertain the men. Just then, Suzie receives a letter from "Charley," stating that he still loves her and is about to leave for active duty. Suzie goes to the ship to which "Charley" has been assigned and there finds Mickey and the band, who have all joined the Navy. After Suzie and Mickey reconcile, the band performs "Anchors Aweigh," much to the delight of the crowd.
Director
John H. Auer
Cast
Simone Simon
Dennis O'keefe
Michael Whalen
Lionel Stander
Wally Vernon
Tom Seidel
Dan Seymour
Edward Gargan
Tommye Adams
Jeraldine Jordan
Harry Burns
Eleanor Counts
Earl Audet
Forbes Murray
Eddie Kane
Mary Bertrand
Crew
John H. Auer
George R. Brown
H. W. Hanemann
Russell Kimball
Lawrence Kimble
Harry Knight
Frederick Kohner
Frederick Kohner
R. Lovell
Ballard Macdonald
Jack Marta
Joseph Meyer
Sol Meyer
Alfred Hart Miles
Charles Newman
Adele Palmer
Lew Pollack
Billy Rose
Morton Scott
Otto Siegel
Jule Styne
Richard Van Enger
Charles A. Zimmerman
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to Hollywood Reporter news items, this film was originally to have starred Ruth Terry, but when Terry temporarily retired to have a baby, the lead was given to Simone Simon. A January 18, 1943 Hollywood Reporter news item noted that Nika Fisher was to make her screen debut in the picture, but her participation in the completed film has not been confirmed.
